Barring a minor tension over an old flag being used for hoisting, the Republic Day celebrations in Hubli passed off peacefully on Tuesday amidst tight security.
A large number of people, including Muslim leaders participated in the flag hoisting ceremony at the Idgah Maidan where Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Commissioner P S Vastrad unfurled the Tricolour.
Tension prevailed at Old Hubli Durgad Bail squ-are where some Bajrang Dal activists objected to an old flag being hoisted. The flag hoisted by corporator Altaf Kittur was torn and the police immediately replaced it with a good one.
It was pomp and gaiety at Nehru stadium with a large number of citizens and students attending the Republic Day celebrations.
Tahasildar Biradar hoisted the flag and received salute from NCC, Home Guards, Scouts and Guides and other troupes. Cultural activities by school children were added attraction. MP Prahlad Joshi, chairman of Backward classes development corporation Ashok Katwe, MLC Basavaraj Horatti, former MLC A M Hindasgeri and others were present.
At South Western Railway zone head quarter general manager Kuldeep Chaturvedi unfurled the tricolour while at Hubli divisional head quarter, divisional manager Adesh Sharma hoisted the flag. Cultural activities were held at both the venues in the presence of senior officials.
More From This Section
Mayor Veeranna Savadi hoisted tricolour at Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation in Hubli while his deputy Venkatesh Mestry did the job at Dharwad office of HDMC.
In the wake of controversy over hoisting the flag at Idgah maidan and also red alert by intelligence agencies, police had made elaborate security arrangements. Heavy posse of policemen was deployed in key junctions of Hubli. Metal detectors and CCTV cameras were installed to keep a tab on the movement of the people.